GROßE KRUEZER

Germany's First Battlecruiser - SMS Von der Tann

Ship's Crest

Laid down in 1909 just as HMS Invincible was commissioning, SMS Von der Tann
was destined to be the workhorse of the German 1st Scouting Group. From the early raids on the East coast
of England to Jutland and beyond, SMS Von der Tann was in the thick of the action, accounting well
for herself. SMS Von der Tann is credited with sinking the battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable
at Jutland in June 1916. But even before her construction was started, the design of her successor had begun
- the Moltke-class.

PHOTOS

Plans and Construction

Line Drawing - Side View (Koop)
Line Drawing - Side View (Greger)
Line Drawing - Top and Side Views (Greger)
Line Drawing - Side View (Gröner)

The Battle of Jutland (aka the Battle of Skagerrak) 31 May to 1 June, 1916

Starboard Quarter showing damage received at 1609 hrs from a 15" shell
fired by HMS Barham. The hit allowed in nearly 1,000 tons of water, flooded the steering room and nearly put the steering gear out of action which would have probably led to the loss of the ship.